Mar 24, 2016

Portrait of a Youth from Acharya Class - Eastern Bengal 1860's

Portrait of a Youth from Acharya Class - Eastern Bengal 1860's

This person is a priest of the Acharj or acharya or Hindu spiritual teacher. This type of priest performs funeral ceremonies. Following cremation, the sons of the dead do homage to him, before giving him the clothes and bedstead of the deceased. Often such a priest was not allowed through the gates of villages as he was considered to be impure.

Source: British Library (bl.uk)